Luis Gonzalez said something that really peaked my interest .

Luis Gonzalez, the 40-year-old veteran, has started 12 consecutive games in left field because of Josh Willingham's stiff back, and he has responded by hitting .364. He has hit safely in nine of the 12 games.

"It is a matter of repetitions," Gonzalez said. "I've been able to get my rhythm and maintain it better this way than coming off the bench. I hope this stretch will make it easier when Hammer is ready to go again."

Gonzalez had two hits in 12 at-bats with a homer and two RBI as a pinch hitter, a new role for him.

"I had too many strikeouts [six]," Gonzalez said. "I want these people to know they got what they wanted with me. I want to be valuable enough to them that I don't become a bargaining chip later in the season when teams are looking for veteran hitter."

The role of being a pinch hitter is probably one of the hardest to adapt to in all of baseball.  You sit on the bench maybe game after game and then you finally get your chance at the plate.  You come in cold and if you're lucky you may see one good pitch to hit.  Veterans are better at adjusting to pinch hitting, though not all can.  But I'm pretty sure Gonzo can but given the way the injuries are going and how well he is hitting, he may only see limited time in the pinch hitting role.

Which brings up the question again: Why in the world are Brett Carroll and Robert Andino being used as solely pinch hitters?  Shouldn't they be playing everyday somewhere?  The kids are starters -- they are not bench players.  I hope they aren't being evaluated by their performance off the bench batting once every four days as to whether they could be major league players -- because that wouldn't be fair.

Brett Carroll was called up from Albuquerque when Josh Willingham was placed on the DL and since that time has been used sparingly .

Outfielder Brett Carroll has been with the Marlins since Friday afternoon, having been called up from Triple A Albuquerque (N.M.) before Florida's game against San Diego.

Recalled when left fielder Josh Willingham hit the 15-day disabled list, Carroll wasn't sure what his role with the Marlins would be. On Sunday, he saw his first action since his return to the majors, pinch-hitting in the eighth inning and taking over in left for the final inning.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez said Carroll probably would get a start in the upcoming series against Milwaukee.

''He's a guy on the bench -- but only right now,'' Gonzalez said, adding that he couldn't ignore the career numbers veteran Luis Gonzalez has put up against San Diego's pitchers.

``I'm the kind of guy who doesn't like to call a player up and then not play them. I don't like guys sitting on the bench because eventually you're going to need that player to contribute. That's tough to do if you've been parked on the bench for a week.''

I have no reason to doubt Fredi's sincerity about wanting the use players who are called up from the minors, but the fact remains: Carroll, as is Andino, is just wasting his youth away riding the pine.

I was hopeful that when Carroll got the call we could get an extended chance to see how he could handle himself in the majors, but that hasn't been the case and it probably won't happen this time around.

And that is a shame.

The two young kids aren't use to being bench players, it takes a veteran to excel at that roll, they are starters by trade and should get some starts or they should be in the minors where they can play everyday.  But then again, the bump in pay must be nice.

A new set of tires for the car -- Yay!  (One day I will explain that, but this isn't going to be that day.)

As you all know by now Josh Willingham didn't make the start yesterday and Mike Jacobs remains on the bench .

Marlins left fielder Josh Willingham was scratched from Tuesday's lineup after experiencing stiffness in his back during pregame warmups.

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Willingham has dealt with back issues in the past. He missed most of last September with a herniated disk.

Sometime in the future Willingham will require surgery on his back, the condition is just too chronic to avoid it.

Jacobs didn't make it back into the lineup on Tuesday as originally hoped, it's now looking like Thursday .

The sprained right middle finger that forced Jacobs from the lineup Sunday likely will keep him from starting until Thursday, Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Jacobs felt a jolt during a sixth-inning at-bat Saturday at Milwaukee and left the game. X-rays taken after the game were negative.

Jacobs pinch-hit in the ninth inning Tuesday and struck out."In an emergency, he can play," Gonzalez said. "But we're trying to not irritate it more."

If for some reason Fredi doesn't want to start Helms at first while Jacobs is recovering, Gonzo is getting ready .

Veteran outfielder Luis Gonzalez did some early work at first base before Tuesday's game just in case the Marlins need him to play there. Gonzalez said he had not played first in a game since he was with the Cubs early in his career, saying, ``It's like riding a bike, although

I haven't been on that bike in a long time.''

The biggest problem with Willingham and Jacobs out of the lineup, besides the team missing their bats, isn't Helms or Gonzo in the starting lineup, wherever they play, I'm sure they will do fine.  It is the fact that it leaves a very short bench for Fredi to work with.  On the other hand, I would enjoy seeing another late inning PH game winner from Andino.  He does that all the time.  Right?